Projects to cut home fuel bills
Hundreds of homes on Wearside are set to benefit from energy efficiency improvements after funds were approved by city leaders.
Sunderland City Council’s ruling cabinet signed-off several successful applications for grant funding for schemes aiming to reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty.
This included the first wave of the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) and the National Grid’s Warm Homes Fund, whichisadministeredbycommunity interest company Affordable Warmth Solutions.
The Government SHDF grantof£1,236,513willbeused, in partnership with Gentoo, to help fund ‘decarbonisation upgrading works’ to 604 social rented homes owned by GentoolocatedacrossSunderland.
Thiswillincludeloftinsulation, a combination of loft and window upgrades and fabric enhancements, such as externalwallinsulationandflatroof upgrades, over the coming financial year.
The council-secured funding will go towards a total project cost of £2,668,115, which includes match funding from Gentoo, with a project board set to be established to oversee the works.
Thecouncil,inpartnership with Groundwork North East, theCitizensAdviceBureauand the GP Alliance, also secured £948,143ofgrantfundingfrom the Warm Homes Fund.
This will be used to support the delivery of affordable heatingsolutionsin“fuelpoor” householdswithinthecity,and will take the form of two interrelated projects.
The first will deliver air source heat pumps to up to 135 private sector properties within the city and the second project will provide energy advice and guidance to support households.
Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of the council, introduced a report on the external funding bids to cabinet.
He said the projects would helpthecounciltomeetitscarbon reduction commitments, while also reducing fuel poverty and health inequalities in the city.
Several senior councillors welcomed the report, includingcouncillorLouiseFarthing, cabinet member for children, learning and skills.
Cllr Farthing told the meeting: “Well done to those that have managed to get this moneycomingintothecitybecause it is well-needed.
“We have high levels of poverty and that is also fuel poverty, so it’s good that we’re going to be doing something to actually alleviate that and also that it fits into our Low Carbon Framework.”
Cllr Kelly Chequer, cabinet member for Healthy City, said: “IthinktheWarmHomesFund projectinparticularisonethat I would like to comment upon.
“We’re moving into a stage in our communities where we’re going to see more and more people suffering from fuel poverty.
“Anything that we can do as acouncilandworkingwithour partners to help minimise the impact of these changes that are being imposed on our residents, we have to support.”
Cllr Miller added: “My view is that the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund is never more welcome than it is now, given that we’re moving into a period over the next couple of months where the Government has lost total control of how people can afford to heat their properties, and the cost of living crisis.
“We will be doing this work to try and make sure at least 600 houses have their energy bills come down for the residents there.”